Treatment for Night Terrors

Pharmacologic Treatment

• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends clonazepam as a primary pharmacologic option for severe, frequent night terrors, used on a short-term basis at bedtime 1, 2

Diagnostic Considerations

• Night terrors typically occur 1-3 hours after sleep onset during arousal from deep NREM sleep, with a prevalence of 1-6.5% in children aged 1-12 years, peaking at ages 5-7, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 1, 2
• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises against confusing night terrors with nightmare disorder, which requires entirely different treatment 3, 4, 5